Top Scholar

Chapter 636 Only Tactics Win People's Hearts

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Su Lu coughed violently on the spot after being ridiculed by Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang was both annoyed and amused: "Alright, stop pretending here. You've coughed off all your makeup."

"I wasn't pretending..." Su Lu glanced at Ru Hua beside him and saw her shake her head slightly, so he knew that his master was bluffing him: "I choked on my own saliva!"

"You brat, you don't learn anything good, you only learn these unorthodox methods." Li Dongyang said irritably when he saw that he wasn't falling for it.

"If you don't want people to learn, then don't teach them..." Su Lu muttered softly.

"You'll only become useless if you try to learn everything, understand?" Li Dongyang blew his beard: "You acted so convincingly! At first, I thought you weren't going to live much longer, I was almost heartbroken!"

"Now you know how I felt when I visited him in the hospital, right? It was truly heartbreaking..." Su Lu kept trying to shift the blame onto Li Dongyang.

“I was really sick!” Li Dongyang exclaimed, “I just came back to life after the spring.”

“The child is truly ill,” Su Lu said, coughing twice more.

"Alright, alright, let's stop arguing and get down to business." Li Dongyang waved his hand helplessly.

Su Lu then straightened his expression and solemnly said, "Fourth point, what if the people don't accept silver dollars, Master? I'll say it again, this monetary law is mainly used to restrain the government. As long as the government is willing to accept it, the people have no reason not to!"

As he spoke, he raised his voice and said, "Therefore, the key to the success or failure of the silver dollar lies with the government—as long as the government doesn't act like a rogue and dares to issue, recognize, and accept the silver dollars, the Zhengde silver dollar will definitely be able to circulate smoothly among the people!"

Su Lu looked up and gazed deeply at Li Dongyang. This was the real reason he was staging this self-inflicted injury ruse today—without the backing and full cooperation of the government from top to bottom, even the best monetary system would ultimately be nothing but empty words.

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices had virtually no control over the government, so the monetary reforms could only be implemented with the support of the Grand Secretary, the Imperial Tutor…

Li Dongyang nodded calmly: "Go on."

"Finally, the issue of silver coins containing less than one tael of silver. Ultimately, why does money necessarily have to be valuable?" Su Lu said, making a startling statement.

"From the white deer coins issued by Emperor Wu of Han to the Jiaozi of the Song Dynasty, the paper money of the Yuan Dynasty, and even the Baochao of our current dynasty, all were just pieces of mulberry bark paper. Even though the government only issued them but did not collect them, they still circulated throughout the country for decades, and could still be used as money until the Yongle era. This fully demonstrates that the currency itself does not necessarily have to be of full value. With the credit of the imperial court, it can still gain the recognition of the people!"

"Now the paper money is practically worthless. The root cause of its devaluation is not that the paper itself is worthless, but that the court's credit has completely collapsed. As for silver as currency, it is merely a substitute that has spontaneously formed among the people after the collapse of the court's credit. How can the currency of the mighty Celestial Empire be such an inconvenient thing?"

"Even more fatal is that this is tantamount to handing over the nation's monetary lifeline entirely to the wealthy princes and powerful families who hoard silver! The national treasury is practically empty, with no room for fiscal maneuvering whatsoever. Yet those gentry and rich households can manipulate prices, seize land, and influence the court with their hoarded silver!" Su Lu spoke with increasing fervor, his voice resounding with conviction:

"Therefore, reforming the monetary system, rebuilding the court's monetary credibility, and regaining control over the minting and circulation of coins is a long-term plan that will benefit the country and its people!"

After listening quietly to Su Lu's impassioned speech, Li Dongyang sighed deeply after a long while, "You have thoroughly studied the root cause of the problems with the Ming Dynasty's monetary system. Even my master is no match for you..."

He then changed the subject, earnestly admonishing him: "But don't forget Mencius's saying, 'Governing is not difficult; one must not offend the powerful.' This is not to teach you to flatter the wealthy and powerful, but to make you see clearly—the foundation of the Ming Dynasty has always rested on these imperial princes, noble families, and gentry. Your new law cuts off their source of wealth through exploitation and seizure, and destroys the foundation for their hoarding of silver. It truly affects their interests!"

Li Dongyang became increasingly worried and said:

"These people are the officials of the court, and they also control the prefectures, counties, and villages below, forming a net that covers the entire Ming Dynasty. If you really offend them all, then the whole court will be filled with memorials impeaching you, and even the best laws will be criticized as bad policies! Local prefectures and counties will be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and even the most wonderful scriptures will be misinterpreted by you! Even with the emperor's support, your decrees will not leave the Leopard Chamber."

"So no matter how good the method is, without the support of these people, let alone implementing it throughout the country, you probably won't even be able to start a pilot project. In the end, you won't just fail at this one thing, you might even be disgraced and become the second Wang Anshi..."

Su Lu listened attentively to his master's advice, but his eyes showed no sign of backing down; instead, they burned with even more fervor. "Master, please forgive me," he said, "but I believe that the 'great families' Mencius spoke of were virtuous and distinguished families that could set an example for others, not the parasites of the nation that hoard silver, seize land, and exploit the people to the bone!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but get out of bed and said to Li Dongyang in a deep voice, "Throughout history, which capable ruler didn't use the suppression of land annexation and the thwarting of powerful clans as a strategy to consolidate the nation's foundation? Emperor Wu of Han implemented the system of 'calculating the wealth of the wealthy,' Emperor Taizong of Tang suppressed the Shandong gentry, and Emperor Gaozu rectified the wealthy households in Jiangnan! These wise and powerful rulers all did the same thing. Was it because they hated the rich? No, it was because they all saw it clearly—a nation inevitably perishes due to land annexation, and due to powerful clans!" "Now, the land annexation in the Ming Dynasty has become so severe that the national tax revenue has been halved, and the gap between the rich and the poor has reached its extreme. This has led to the current widespread suffering and rebellions! The prophecy that Master made five years ago in 'A Memorial on Understanding the People's Conditions' has come true without the slightest error! The little prince is still eyeing us covetously. If we continue to indulge and yield, and dare not provoke the powerful clans, we will become slaves of a conquered nation!"

“Yes, I predicted this day…” Li Dongyang nodded solemnly. “But I also predicted that the time for the country’s demise has not yet come.”

“By then, the disease will be incurable, beyond cure, Master! Lao Tzu said, ‘The way of Heaven is to take from those who have more than enough and give to those who have less than enough; the way of man is not so, but to take from those who have less than enough to give to those who have more than enough.’ The Ming Dynasty today is on the dead end of taking from those who have less than enough to give to those who have more than enough. The rich own vast tracts of land and have mountains of silver, while the poor have no place to stand and no food to last the night!” Su Lu said, his emotions growing increasingly agitated.

"The new monetary law is merely acting on behalf of Heaven; what's wrong with it? While there's still a chance, let's bring the Ming Dynasty back to the right path, Master!"

In the end, he was practically begging...

Li Dongyang remained silent for a long time.

“Indeed, every word you utter is the righteous path to save the Ming Dynasty. But your master also told you that this is something you cannot do, something I cannot do, and whoever does it will die…” He looked deeply at his beloved grand-disciple, his eyes brimming with vicissitudes and sorrow:
"Don't think that you can rest easy just because you have the emperor's favor. There are countless examples in history of harmonious relationships between rulers and ministers. Shang Yang and Duke Xiao of Qin, Wang Anshi and Emperor Shenzong, were both loyal and devoted to each other. But what was the result? One was executed but his body was torn apart, and the other was condemned and barely escaped with his life."

"If I could have the same ending as Lord Shang, I would be content," Su Lu said calmly.

"Even if you have the will to die for your country, you still need the conditions for Shang Yang's reforms!" Li Dongyang suddenly raised his voice, his anger rising.
“In peaceful times, these powerful families are deeply intertwined and impenetrable, and cannot be touched in the slightest. Only when the world is in chaos, with war raging everywhere, their fields and houses burned down by rebel armies, and their hoards of gold and silver looted, will the court and the people reach a consensus that if they do not change course, the country will be destroyed and their families will perish. Only then will there be an opportunity to reform the old and establish the new, and to extend the Ming Dynasty's national fortune for another hundred years.”

As he spoke, he took Su Lu's warm and strong hand and said earnestly, "Hongzhi, you are the only six-time top scholar since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Your reputation is known throughout the world. You have a bright future ahead of you. Why do you have to take this dangerous path? Your master is stopping you not for any other reason than fear that you will needlessly bury your life in this man-eating quagmire!"

Su Lu remained silent for a long time after hearing this, before asking softly, "Then why didn't Master retire with Liu and Xie back then?"

Li Dongyang was taken aback, his eyes filled with melancholy as he said, "They're all gone. What will happen to the court? What will happen to the Ming Dynasty?"

“Yes!” Su Lu replied firmly, “If everyone seeks profit and avoids harm, and tries to protect themselves, what will become of the Ming Dynasty? Are we just going to watch it repeat the mistakes of the Jin and Song Dynasties?”

Upon hearing this, Li Dongyang was both angry and sighed, and finally his eyes reddened: "It really proves the saying, 'Those who are not family will not enter the same door.'"

"Isn't this all thanks to Master's excellent example?" Su Lu said with a smile. "I've always thought it was very admirable that you stayed behind alone back then."

One sentence finally brought Li Dongyang to tears. He looked out the window at a 45-degree angle, took several deep breaths, and then held back his tears.

After a while, Li Dongyang composed himself, turned around, and placed his hand on Su Lu's shoulder, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence:
“Child, your master is old and his reputation is ruined, so it doesn’t matter anymore. But I sincerely hope that you can live a peaceful and healthy life, and rise to high office without disaster or illness. Think it over carefully, and if you really want to take this path, your master will accompany you through it!”

Su Lu's eyes also reddened, and he nodded emphatically, saying, "Yes, I will definitely think it over again. We are only conducting a pilot program in Shuntian Prefecture now. If it doesn't work, we will stop immediately."

"Alright then." Li Dongyang finally nodded and said loudly, "I'll keep things under control at the Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture for you!"

Su Lu breathed a sigh of relief, bowed deeply once again, and said with unprecedented sincerity, "Thank you, Master!"

"Why are you being so polite, sir? I have a favor to ask of you too," Li Dongyang said with a smile.

"Uh... please speak, Master," Su Lu said through gritted teeth.

“It’s nothing else, can you discuss this with the Emperor?” Li Dongyang said shrewishly, “Since you want to reform the currency system, then why don’t you stop issuing salaries in paper money and start issuing them in silver dollars? Before you get livestock to pull a cart, you have to feed them well, right? You can’t expect a bunch of officials who are so poor that they’re practically bankrupt to work properly for you without causing you trouble.”

“Alright! Since Master has spoken, I will definitely tell the Emperor!” Su Lu nodded in agreement, which was actually the only thing that needed to be done.

Moreover, issuing silver dollars in exchange for silver notes was part of the plan; Su Lu didn't write it directly into the monetary law, leaving it for his master to negotiate...

(End of this chapter)